Back in a mossy glade, not a hundred feet from where they had been sitting, she stopped suddenly and grew pale with surprise. There sat a beautiful maiden looking down at the boy, who lay in her arms. Sue, who had followed her aunt, now sprang forward with a cry of delight. The maiden rose, her cheeks crimson with embarrassment. "Oh, aunt," said the boy, as he clung fondly to the hand of Edith Dunmore, "this is the beautiful lady." "What's your name?" Sinth demanded. "Edith Dunmore." The girl's voice had a note of sadness. "My land! Do you go wanderin' all over the woods like a bear?" Sinth inquired. The maiden turned away and made no answer. "Land sakes alive! you 'ain't got no business goin' around these woods an' meetin' strange men." "Oh, silly bird!" croaked the little crow from a bough near them. "Mercy!" exclaimed Sinth, as she looked up at the ribboned crow. "It's enough to make the birds talk." There were tears in the maiden's eyes, and the children glanced from her to their aunt, sadly and reprovingly. Sinth, now full of tender feeling, put her arms around the neck of the girl in a motherly fashion. "Poor, poor child!" said she, her voice trembling. "I've laid awake nights thinkin' of you." Something in the tone and touch of the woman brought the girl closer. Another great need of her nature was for a moment satisfied. She leaned her head upon the shoulder of Sinth, and her heart confessed its loneliness in tears and broken phrases. "I--I followed you. I couldn't--couldn't help it," said she. "Poor girl!" Sinth went on, as she patted the head of the maiden. "I've scolded Mr. Master. He oughter let you alone, 'less he's in love, which I wouldn't wonder if he was." "Ah-h-h!" croaked the bird, as if to attract his mistress. "Sakes alive!" exclaimed Sinth, looking up at the crow with moist eyes. "That bird is like a human bein'. Hush, child, you mus' come an' help us celebrate. Come on now; we'll all set down an' have our dinner." Socky and Sue stood by the knees of the maiden looking up at her. Gently the woman led her new acquaintance to their little camp, and bade her sit with the children. Sinth had a happy look in her face while she hurried about getting dinner ready. "Jes' straighten the end, please--that's right," said she as Edith Dunmore put a helping hand on the snowy table-cloth. Sinth began to spread the dishes, and the maiden furtively embraced Socky and Sue. "My land! you do like childem--don't ye? So do I. They's jes' nothin' like 'em in this world." "Dinner's ready," said Sinth, when all the dainties had been set forth. "Heavens an' earth! I'm so glad t' see a woman I could lay right down an' bawl." "You have made me as happy as a young fawn," said Miss Dunmore. "I am not afraid of you or the children." "Are you afraid of _him?_" The maiden looked down, blushing, and almost whispered her answer. "Yes; I am afraid."